Concise Minutes - Petitions Committee

Meeting Venue:

Committee room 1

Meeting date: Monday, 20 May 2024

Meeting time: 14.00 - 16.11
This meeting can be viewed
on Senedd TV at:
http://senedd.tv/en/13905

Hybrid

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Attendance

Category	Names
Members of the Senedd:	Jack Sargeant MS (Chair) Peter Fox MS Peredur Owen Griffiths MS
Witnesses:	Caroline Allen, RSPCA Cymru Dr Julia Mewes, The Mewes Vets Dr Sue Paterson, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) Carlie Power, Cats Matter
Committee Staff:	Gareth Price (Clerk) Mared Llwyd (Second Clerk) Kayleigh Imperato (Deputy Clerk)

<AI1>

1 Introductions, apologies, substitutions and declarations of interest

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Rhiannon Passmore MS.

Rhys ab Owen MS was absent.

</AI1>

<AI2>

2 Evidence session: Panel 1 -  P-06-1291 Hold an enquiry into the corporate takeover of the veterinary profession in Wales

The Committee heard evidence from Dr Sue Paterson, President of the Royal College of Veterinary  Surgeons and Dr Julia Mewes, from the Mewes Vets.

</AI2>

<AI3>

3 New Petitions

</AI3>

<AI4>

3.1 P-06-1411 I oppose the Welsh Government "Senedd Reform Bill", published 18 September 2023, becoming law

The Committee considered the petition and noted that the Bill has had extensive scrutiny as it passed through the Senedd. However, it has now been passed by the Senedd and is awaiting Royal Assent to become an Act. In light of this Members agreed there is nothing further the Committee can do and closed the petition and thanked the petitioner.

</AI4>

<AI5>

3.2 P-06-1426 Install traffic lights at the McDonald’s Pontypool roundabout

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to Gwent Police asking for up-to-date annual data regarding incidents at the roundabout in question to consider whether the safety measure put in place have been effective.

</AI5>

<AI6>

3.3 P-06-1437 Increase, don’t cut, funding for the National Library, Amgueddfa Cymru and the Royal Commission

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the:

• Business Committee to request an urgent date on the issue;
• Chair of the Culture, Communications, Welsh Language, Sport, and International Relations Committee to highlight the petition; and the

Chair of the Finance Committee highlighting the petition and asking them to take it into consideration when undertaking scrutiny of the supplementary budget later this month, and ahead of the plenary debate at the start of July.

</AI6>

<AI7>

4 Updates to previous petitions

</AI7>

<AI8>

4.1 P-06-1326 The Senedd should scrutinise the prepayment meter scandal in Wales

Members noted the history of the petition and the recent plenary debate in the Senedd on 1 May 2024. In light of this Members agreed to close the petition but continue to support the campaigners in their capacity as individual Members of the Senedd.

</AI8>

<AI9>

4.2 P-06-1392 Reform of the additional learning needs Code of Wales 2021

The Committee considered the petition and noted the recent plenary debate in the Senedd on 8 May 2024.

In light of the extensive detailed response received from ALN Reform Wales, Members agreed to forward it to the Cabinet Secretary for Education seeking answers to the specific questions raised, including how the Minister intends to work with campaigners such as ALN Reform Wales.

</AI9>

<AI10>

4.3 P-06-1395 Halt significant new development on the Gwent Levels SSSIs

The Committee considered the petition and agreed to write to the:

·  Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Local Government and Planning seeking answers to the specific questions raised in the petitioners correspondence; and

Chair of the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee to ask if they have any plans to undertake work on the issue.  

</AI10>

<AI11>

5 Evidence session: Panel 2 -  P-06-1291 Hold an enquiry into the corporate takeover of the veterinary profession in Wales

The Committee heard evidence from Caroline Allen, Chief Veterinary officer at RSPCA Cymru and Carlie Power from Cats Matter.

</AI11>

<AI12>

6 Motion under Standing Order 17.42(ix) to resolve to exclude the public from the remainder of the meeting

The motion was agreed.

</AI12>

<AI13>

7 Discussion of evidence - P-06-1291 Hold an enquiry into the corporate takeover of the veterinary profession in Wales

Members discussed the evidence sessions.

</AI13>

<AI14>

8 Petition of the year discussion

Members held a discussion on potential nominations for the petition of the year.

</AI14>

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